Lasalle Orientation: A Porous Affair

Last week, I was waiting for Lasalle College to advise me on orientation details. But they left me in the dark till the last minute. Literally last minute!

Friday, I was at work the whole day, and handled main cashier for the night; I called it 'Virginal Main Cashiering' because it's the first time I'm using the cashier after they upgraded the whole system.

I finished my stock-taking and account-balancing pretty quickly, considering that it was kinda my first try with the new system. Thereafter, I went home, ALONE. So poor thing, right?

At 12.45AM, I thought there might still be normal service buses, so I trodded around Suntec City to the bus-stop. But to my dismay, the last bus left 30 minutes ago. I still had to walk to Bugis to take the NightRider bus.

I was home at 2.00AM, feeling extremely drained of energy. Was about to go to sleep, when my mother, half-asleep, told me, "You've got letters from Nanyang Poly and Lasalle leh, what they say?"

"Really ar?"

I mean, please lah, I'm already so tired, still expected me to check for mail on the kitchen table? Then so I did anyways.

Instinctively, I zoomed straight for the letter from Lasalle College(duh!). Thank goodness! They finally advised me on orientation details and some other admin stuff. I was relieved! I had thought that they'd forgotten all about me.

Then I went on to open the letter from NYP. It says, "INELIGIBILITY FOR MODULE CREDITS/EXAMINATIONS... despite being counselled by mentor...attendance level below stipulated in Clause 7.1(a)...deemed failed in following modules: (insert list of ALL modules)"

When I went down to the dreadful campus the other day, I was told they cannot process my withdrawal. Hence, my status would reflect as 'REMOVED' rather than 'WITHDRAWN'. I guess let them do the removal for me lah, huh.

It's Goodbye Nanyang Poly and Hello Lasalle College!

Finally, I could sleep with peace in mind. I went back into the bedroom, told my mother of the notifications.

Then she asked, "So what's in the box?"

"Huh? What box?"

I mean, PLEASE LAH! I'm freaking tired, I just wanna sleep!

"The box underneath all the letters lah,"

Then I thought to myself, "Box...For me... It couldn't be..."

YES IT WAS!!!

My Big Brovaz Re-Entry Album arrived! I was elated despite being energy-depleted. I had the urge to immediately listen to it, but I realised I was wayyy too sleepy to thoroughly enjoy it, so I went to bed instead.

Basically, I spent my Saturday sleeping, making up for all the rest time I lost over the National Day holidays. Then in the evening, I met Kalis and Hairianto.

Ever since I said I liked to sheesha at Haji Lane, we've usually just hung out at Bugis area. But that night, I felt we should go for something different. After all, they always say I'm addicted to sheesha. WHICH I AM NOT.

So we went to Vivo City instead.



We were having dinner at Fig & Olive. It was nearly impossible to get a proper shot with my lousy camera and trembling hand.

It's been so long since I've dined out properly at a restaurant; so long since I've had proper food too, so I went crazy with ordering items.

We got seats in the restaurant, but then I requested for 'alfresco' dining, thinking, "Hey, it's Vivo City leh! Facing the harbour." Expecting a view too, but got disappointed. But still, I like alfresco because it's more ventilated and less stuffy. Apparently, we ended up clammier. I don't really blame the weather, because if it was a well-designed space, ventilation should not be an issue.

After dinner, we didn't know where to go. We walked around in Vivo, and I had a chance to go express my disgust for TAGGER bags. Finally, I said we should go St James Power Station.

Kalis said, "I knew it!"

Ya lah, huh. Good friends right, know what's on each other's minds.

I mean, after all, I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN TO ST JAMES! Need to go there 'cut ribbon' some time soon. There was a bit of hesitation with my idea. I guess we're the type that's not particularly active at night. Furthermore, we had BIGGER concerns.

Kalis wasn't dressed up enough.

Not that she's shabbily dressed or anything, just that she needed a little 'fine-tuning'. I have to say that there is no major problem with how she dresses herself, just in case you think otherwise. Plus she's very pretty okay!

I think it's because she's matured beyond her age. Her wonderful philosophy of 'Comfort is everything' is highly understandable. But it's quite sad because everytime we hang out, Hairianto and I would kinda scrutinise her dressing and she'd get lambasted by us, especially Hairianto, in ways you cannot imagine! Of course, we don't fall out because of that lah. After all, being such good pals, the least we could do is tell the truth right? And accept one another for who they are. Correct or not, Kalis?

In the end, we went to Balcony at Heeren.



Kalis appears to be attempting to kiss me. But really, she's not lah.



We were on one of the swings, talking. Took this photo, and my camera went dead.

It's quite subtle, but if you really notice, my neck's a little too gleamy. Gleaming with sweat, that is. Even at Balcony, we felt stuffy and hot. Hairianto couldn't take the heat anymore, so we ended up with a stroll up and then down Orchard Road.

Not your typical night of 'fun', but I definitely enjoyed myself. It was a good weekend off from work.

The letter from Lasalle definitely made my weekend. Because on Sunday, while at work, I feeling really nice and dandy. Then time just flew right by.

Then I realised that the Lasalle orientation was the day after! Damned excited.

This morning, I woke up at 7.00AM, can you believe it?! I was so eager that I couldn't wait to go down to the campus. So I met Jana and we went to Lasalle orientation together.

They've removed all the boardings and supporting beams to reveal a very modern and POROUS campus!

In a welcome e-mail, it says, "Until the previous campus, you will find the new campus very porous by design. As such for security reasons, you are required to have your student cards with you at all time to identify your status as our students in the new campus."

I immediately smiled at the word 'porous'. It's used so nicely! It's one of those words that are plain simple, but instantly conjure up a plethora of images in my head. I mean, the new campus has a black facade that's filled with many of the signature rectangular 'holes', which makes 'porous' very very apt as an adjective for the campus.

In fact, I'm strangely turned on by the word. I believe it's the next IN word: POROUS. Jana and I were crapping (creative exchange of words) continuously about 'porous'. Simple word, but highly imaginative and artfully descriptive.



We were sitting down on this huge piece of faux grass patch, sloped very slightly. Then there was live bands playing some more! Sitting on a hill enjoying a live band, a la Singfest at Fort Canning! Haha!


Jana, synthetic grass, me.



Look! POROUS by sight!



Artful misfire. A lot of recent professional fashion spreads feature motion blur too!



Another artful shot in a smashingly hot campus. Bubble lifts leh!